Signaling system and apparatus



July 26, 1932. w. BRANDER SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed Jul 11, 1951 INVENTOR iH IGm Br er H ORNEY Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES WILLIAM BBANDEB, 01' NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Application filed J'uly 11, 1931. Serial No. 550,112.

My invention relates to signal systems, or apparatus, useful for various purposes and especially, as herein disclosed and explained, for a street trafiic signal system.

5 A principal object is to provide at each of a plurality of signaling positions, a plurallty o lamps, and specifically, as here shown, two

lamps, so arranged or provided with such controlling mechanism that when either lamp at a station is inadvertently extinguished (as for example, by burning out of the filament) the other lamp will remain in active condition to maintain the desired signal at that station.

A further object is to provide means by which when one lamp is extinguished, the other will then be intermittently lighted; or in other words, the remaining active lamp will be caused to flash, until the defective lamp is replaced, thus forcibly attracting attention to the abnormal condition of the lamps at the stated signaling station so that an attendant will promptly replace the defective bulb.

These purposes are accomplished, in accordance with the invention, by arranging the two lamps at a station normally in series with each other across the line and providing a circuit controlling device of the nature of a thermo flasher in parallel relation to each lamp. Normally, while the heating coils of the thermo flashers draw a certain amount of current, they are of such resistance that when placed in parallel relation to a lamp they will not draw sufiicient current to cause them to break circuit, and the major part of the current therefore flows in series through the lamp filaments, maintaining both lamps in illuminated condition so long as the signaling circuit is closed. If however either lamp is extinguished as by rupture of its filament, the entire current flow to the lamp terminals will go through the heating'coil of the correspondin thermo flasher, which thereupon acts in t e normal manner of such devices to intermittently interrupt the circuit of the remaining active lamp, which therefore flashes until the defective condition is remediedas by inserting a new bulb in place of the one which has burned out.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufliciently explained in connection with the following detail description of the accompanying drawing, which shows one 1 preferred embodiment. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed; and I contemplate the employment of any structures that are properly within an the scope of the appended claims.

The drawing illustrates in a diagrammatic manner a signal system, mechanism, or ap-' paratus embodying the invention in one form.

Two signaling positions or stations, 1 and c5 2, are shown as representative of any desired number of such stations, the lamps of which ma be in one circuit; and of course, the main or ranch circuit to the lam s of any oneor plurality of stations may o controlled in any deslred way for traflic regulation.

At each station, I provide two lamp sockets 3 and 4, each having a bulb, 5 and 6, re-

spectively. The bulbs may be colored or may both be placed in roper relation to a colored lens 7 so that eit er or both lamps will illuminate the lens and so give the desired color signal and of course, a plurality of sets of lamps may be provided at each station to give signals in two or more colors in accordance with customary traflic control arrangements.

I here show only two lamps at each station to give a single color indication and by arranging the two lamps in proper relation to a single lens such as 7, the desired signal 35 is displayed by means of the lens when either lamp or both are in active condition.

The conductors 8 and 9 represent any main or branch circuit arranged in this instance to control the lamps at the two stations 1 and 2 simultaneously. For convenience the conductors 8 and 9 may; be referred to as the main circuit since t ey have that function in the present example.

At each station branch conductors 10 and 11 lead from the main conductors 8 and 9 respectively, to the terminals of the two lamp sockets 3 and 4 in series relation, so that normally the lamps are in series and in shunt relation to the main circuit.

For each lamp I provide a circuit-controlling instrumentality 12, 13 and specifically in preferred cases this instrumentality is a thermo flasher of a type which, as conventionally illustrated, includes a thermal strip 14 carrying a contact 15 to engage a fixed contact 16, and a heating coil 17 the terminals of which are connected by conductors 18, 19, to place the heating coil in shunt relation to the terminals of the respective lamp socket as clearly represented in the drawing.

Normally, both lamp filaments at any station being in active condition, the bulbs are illuminated by current flowing through the filaments in series. A reduced current flow, controlled by the resistance of the heating coils 17, flows through these coils, each of which is in shunt relation to its respective lamp, and this reduced current flow is insufficient, when the lamp resistances or 'wattage are properly chosen in relation to the line voltage,-to heat the thermo strip 14 sufficiently to open the heater circuits. Both lamps are therefore continuously illuminated so long as the main circuit to the station is closed and so long as the lamp filaments are in good condition.

When the filament of either lamp at any station is ruptured, current flow through the lamp is of course immediately interrupted and the entire current flow of the combined lamp-circuit is directed through the heater coil 17 corresponding to the burned out lamp, while the remaining lamp continues to receive normal current flow. The full current supplied to the heater-coil corresponding to the defective lamp, causes it to operate in the manner normal to these thermo flashers, that is, the branch circuit including the two lamps at the station, is periodically interrupted, so that the remaining active lamp becomes a flashing lamp, thus maintaining the desired signal at the station and at the same time, forcibly attracting attention to the defective condition existing at the station so that an attendant may promptly remedy this condition by substituting a fresh bulb for the one which has burned out, and thereupon, the lamps at the station will op crate normally, that is, both will be illuminated without flashing action.

It will be understood that by the described circuit arrangements the burning out of any lamp at one station will not, in any way, affect the operation of the lamps at other stations on the same circuit; also, that the invention provides a notable increase of safety in that two lamps are provided at each station. and when either one becomes defective and inoperative, the other will continue to be active and will also operate in a distinctive manner, namely, by flashing, so that the defective condition may be promptly remedied.

In a similar manner, my invention is ap plicable for signals and other lights of signaling, lighting and other light indicating circuits of railroads, automobiles, fire, hall lighting and exit lamps for theatres, public buildings, fire and burglar alarm systems.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific formations thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention,

I claim.

1. A device comprising a plurality of lamp bulbs at a signal station, and circuit controlling means and conductors adapted to normally steadily illuminate the lamps and to cause one lamp to flash when current flow through another lamp is interrupted.

2. A device comprising two lamp bulbs at a signal station, and circuit controlling instrumentalities and conductors arranged to normally steadily illuminate both lamps and to cause one lamp to flash when current flow through the other lamp is interrupted.

3. A device comprising a plurality of lamp bulbs at a signal station, a thermo flasher in shunt relation to each lamp and circuit conductors arranged to normally cause all of the lamps at the station to be steadily illuminated and also acting upon interruption of current flow through one lamp to cause another lamp at the station to be intermittently illuminated.

4. A device comprising two lamp bulbs at a signal station, a thermo flasher in shunt relation to each lamp, and circuit conductors arranged to normally cause both lamps at the station to be steadily illuminated and also acting upon interruption of current flow through either lamp to cause the other lamp at the station to be intermittently illuminated.

5. In a lighting system, a main circuit, a pair of lamps connected with said main circuit and at a single point, said pair of lamps being connected in series with one another and means in association with the lamps normally permitting them to be steadily illuminated and acting when current flow through either lamp is interrupted to cause the other lamp to operate in a flashing manner.

6. In a lighting'system, a main circuit, a pair of lamps connected with said main circuit and at a single point, said pair of lamps being connected in series with one another, and thermoflasher means in association with the lamps normally permitting them to be steadily illuminated and acting when current flow through either lamp is interrupted to cause the other lamp to operate in a flashing manner.

7. In an electrical system, the combination of a lamp. an electric current consumptive device in circuit relation with said lamp, and circuit controlling means and conductors adapted. to normally steadily illuminate said lamp and to cause said lamp to flash when current through said electric current consumption device is interrupted.

8. In an electrical system, the combination of .a lamp, an electric current consum tion 5 device in circuit relation with said amp,

conductors arranged to normally steadily illuminate said lamp and to cause said lam to flash when current through said electric current consumption device is interru ted.

9. In an electrical system, the combmation of a lamp, an electric current consumption device in circuit relation with said lamp, a -thermo-flasher in shunt relation with said lamp, and circuit conductors arran d to 15 normally cause said lamp to be stea ily illuminated and also acting upon interruption of current through said electric current consumption device to cause said lamp to be intermittently illuminated.

10. In an electrical system, the combination of a lamp, an electric current consumption device, circuit conductors connecting said lamp and said electric current consumption device in series with one another, and

25 means in association with said lamp normall permitting said lamp to be steadlly illuminated and acting when current flow is interrupted through said electric current consumption device to operate said lamp in a flashing manner.

11. In an electrical system, the combination of a lamp, an electric current consumption device, circuit conductors connecting said lamp and said electric current consumption device in series with one another, and thermo-flasher means in association with said lamp normally permitting said lamp to be steadily illuminated and acting when current flow through said electric current consumption device is interrupted to cause said lamp to operate in a flashin manner.

In testimony whereof I ave signed this specification this 1st day of Jul 1931.

5 WILLIAM B ANDER. 

